title: School nurse communication effectiveness with physicians and satisfaction with school health services.
abstract: This study examined school nurses' communication with community physicians and its relationship to school nurse satisfaction with school health services. A stratified random sample of school nurses in Pennsylvania (N = 615) were surveyed about communication effectiveness with community physicians, satisfaction with school health services for students, perception of leadership, and students' health care needs. Additional information from national/state education data on student poverty, nurse-to-student ratio, and rural/urban location was included. Findings indicate that having a leadership role in influencing school health policy is related to school nurses' communication with community physicians and satisfaction with school health services. Effective communication with physicians was found to be a salient issue influencing satisfaction with school health services, suggesting the importance of stressing communication as well as leadership skills in school nurse education.
authors.affiliation: The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Julie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Volkman
authors.forename: Marianne M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hillemeier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D010820:Physicians; D012572:School Health Services; D012573:School Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires